ASEAN begins 2000 countdown

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began on Friday the 100 Days to the Year 2000 countdown in Indonesia with a contemporary production of Realizing Rama, a story from the epic Ramayana, a statement from the ASEAN Secretariat said on Wednesday.

It said the performance was a collaborative effort involving artists and dancers from the association's 10 member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is hosting the Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 evening performances at Gedung Wayang in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta. A workshop will also be held by the artists at Mal Taman Anggrek on Friday morning.

The ASEAN countdown will serve as a medium to generate wider support for ASEAN's activities, which include a series of projects and expositions over the next 100 days.